The Us Commission’s Alarming Findings on India’s Religious Freedom Crisis

Muhammad Wasama Khalid

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) report exposes harshly the clandestine methods of Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The Commission issued its findings through a March 25, 2025 publication which reveals startling evidence about RAW’s secret operations that include unlawful killings and religious persecution alongside opposition suppression. The report points out that the international community must understand the systemic violence and manipulation which the Indian government and its intelligence services orchestrate. The Indian government officially rejected the USCIRF report although the report exposes a bleak situation regarding minority rights in the country.

RAW performs covert activities through spying efforts and targeted elimination operations while using false information to intimidate critics.

The USCIRF annual report highlights how RAW supposedly engages in extrajudicial killings that mainly focus on Sikhs, Muslims, Dalits, and Christians. The Commission states that RAW performs covert activities through spying efforts and targeted elimination operations while using false information to intimidate critics and oppress minority faiths. RAW conducts its operations beyond Indian borders through international activities which involve controlling media along with public opinion manipulation to legitimize violent suppression of minority groups.

The USCIRF report reveals that RAW operates hate campaigns simultaneously with their extrajudicial killing activities. The report states that RAW uses distorted statistics from over 1,200 hate crimes to support extremist viewpoints. The data reveals the dangerous relationship between national repression practices and increasing violence directed against marginalized groups. Hate speech incidence has resulted in a 70% elevated rate of violent acts targeting minority communities.

RAW actively works together with government insiders and extremists through its operations. RAW employs hate speech targeting Muslims to support its unlawful actions which have led to the killing of more than 1,100 opposition leaders of minority communities. The allegations about state-controlled violence and false disinformation are extremely worrying because they reveal possible Indian government involvement in democratic violation and citizen rights infringement.

The increasing proof of religious discrimination together with state-permitted violence has not caused India’s government to recognize the situation’s serious nature. The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received major criticism since 2014 because of its policy towards religious minorities especially Muslims. His government faces criticism for spreading hateful statements along with implementing discriminatory policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act that Muslims view as discriminatory. The Kashmir special status cancellation combined with Muslim population restrictions, demonstrate that public authorities are adopting more authoritarian methods.

Hate speech incidence has resulted in a 70% elevated rate of violent acts targeting minority communities.

The recent surge in hate speech against Muslims, along with anti-conversion legislation and the demolition of Muslim properties, has deepened the mistrust between religious communities in India. While the Indian government insists that its policies are aimed at national integration and development, rights groups argue that these actions disproportionately harm minority groups, especially Muslims. Modi’s rhetoric, including his controversial remarks about Muslims as “infiltrators” who have “more children,” only fuels the growing perception that his government is turning a blind eye to the plight of religious minorities.

The United States’ response to these developments has been somewhat muted, given the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. Washington’s interest in countering China’s rising influence in Asia has led to closer ties with India, and some analysts argue that human rights issues, including the treatment of minorities, have been sidelined in favor of geopolitical concerns.

However, the USCIRF’s report underscores the need for the U.S. to take a firm stance on these issues, especially when one of its key allies is implicated in widespread human rights abuses. While the recommendations made by the Commission, such as imposing sanctions on RAW and designating India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations, are unlikely to be adopted by the U.S. government, they send a clear message that India’s treatment of its religious minorities cannot be ignored on the international stage.

The global community needs to maintain its responsibility to keep India responsible for activities performed by its intelligence services and government officials which breach fundamental human rights. The USCIRF report functions as an alarm which encourages the global community to recognize the concerning nature of Indian repressive and violent patterns.

The USCIRF report functions as an alarm which encourages the global community to recognize the concerning nature of Indian repressive and violent patterns.

India might ignore the accusations but the international community must enforce safeguards for minority rights while making governments responsible for democratic values violations. The ongoing development in India requires active protection of dissident voices while prosecutors must enforce justice against those who commit violence and discrimination.

The author is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in International Relations at the National Defense University (NDU). He has a profound interest in history, politics, and current affairs. He tweets at @WasamaKhalid and can be reached at Wasamakhalid@gmail.com.